Monetary Policy
BoJ's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 12, 13 July meeting and also the 25 June meeting on 13 August. At the most recent meeting members agreed that the Japanese economy continued to recover, citing increases in production and corporate profits…
IMF says Turkey's cb independence important
A report on Turkey's performance under the most recent International Monetary Fund-supported economic program praised Turkey and its central bank for reducing the inflation rate to single-digits.
Poland to up its economic growth forecast
The Polish government is set to raise its forecast for 2004 growth in gross domestic product, the PAP news agency reported on Friday 13 August.
Peru's Silva may head for IMF
Chairman of the Central Bank of Peru, Javier Silva Ruete, may leave his job and head for the IMF in Washington, Gestion newspaper reported this week, citing Economy and Finance Minister Pedro-Pablo Kuczynski.
Former auditing chief appointed to PBOC dep gov
Xiang Junbo, the former deputy auditor-general of National Audit Office (NAO), has been appointed vice governor of People's Bank of China, an official at the central bank press office said.
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
In an interview published by Il Sole 24 Ore this week, vice President of the European Central Bank Lucas Papademos said that since last April the ECB has preferred to cease using the word "appropriate" so as to dispel the impression that had prevailed in…
Goh becomes chairman of MAS
Lee Hsien Loong, who became Singapore's third prime minister on Thursday 12 August, will remain as finance minister, but his predecessor Goh Chok Tong is to take over as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Brazil's central bankers strike for second day
Eighty per cent of Brazilian central bank employees went on strike for a second day in demand of a pay rise, central bank spokesman Jocimar Nastari was quoted as saying this week.
Give RBZ autonomy, IMF tells Zimbabwe
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a Working Paper that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) needs to be independent from government to achieve its policy objectives.
SARB announces changes to its MPC
The composition of the South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has been changed to allow for two senior staff members of the SARB to become members. A.D. Mminele, Head of Financial Markets and Dr M. Mnyande, Head of Research and Senior…
Madagascar reports difficult economic conditions
A disputed presidential election meant a difficult 2002 for Madagascar's central bank. In its recently published annual report for that year the central bank discusses the impact of these problems and its actions in combating them.
RBA Conference: The future of inflation targeting
The Reserve Bank of Australia has published the papers presented at its 2004 Conference "The future of inflation targeting" held 9-10 August. Papers include 'Can central bank transparency go too far?,' 'Inflation measurement for central bankers', and …
ECB Monthly Bulletin, August 2004
The European Central Bank published its August 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 12 August. In the Bulletin the ECB said rising oil prices may hurt the economy in the 12 eurozone nations and keep inflation above the bank's limit into early next year.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, August 2004
The Bank of Japan released the English version of its August 2004 monthly report on 12 August. In the report the bank said Japan's economy continues to recover, adding that the upturn will likely gather "stronger momentum."
Global currency answer to unstable world economy
This article asks whether floating exchange rates have proved to be the ideal replacement for the unsustainable adjustable exchange-rate pegs of the Bretton Woods monetary regime. If the global market economy is to thrive in the decades ahead, a global…
Canada's new banknotes to be issued in autumn
The Bank of Canada plans to issue a new $50 note, the final banknote in the Canadian Journey series, on 17 November. Before that the bank expects to put the new $20 note into circulation beginning late September.
BOK makes unexpected cut in interest rate
The Bank of Korea unexpectedly cut its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point on Thursday 12 August to give a spur to the lacklustre economy.
IMF optimistic on Japanese economy
The International Monetary Fund upgraded its economic outlook for Japan on Wednesday 11 Augustand said it expects price deflation there to end next year.
Guan on Singapore's economy and financial sector
In a speech on 'Review of Singapore's economy and financial sector' given on 21 July, Koh Yong Guan of the Monetary Authority of Singapore said the MAS continues to be focused on supporting non-inflationary economic growth, developing the financial…
Are there too many yes men on the MPC?
This article reports that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has remained significantly more consensual than their predecessors, with an average "maverick rating" of just under three compared with nearly five among previous members. This…
Fed sees stronger pick up in growth
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 10 August to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-1/2 percent. In its press release the FOMC maintained its stance that policy accommodation could be removed at a…
Bank of England forecasts falling inflation
The Bank of England published its August 2004 Inflation Report on 11 August. According to the report UK inflation will hit its 2% target in two years, as long as interest rates rise in line with the gradual upward path the market currently expects.
Polish central banker Rybinski warns on rates
Deputy governor of the National Bank of Poland Krzysztof Rybinski said on Wednesday 11 August that the central bank may have to be more aggressive in raising interest rates to contain inflation.
PBOC reports money supply growth slowdown
Money supply and credit loans growth rates dropped in July as a result of the government's effective macro-economic control policy, China's central bank said on Wednesday 11 August in its monthly report on financial performance.